Reading this book as an American educator is gut-wrenching. School shootings are horrific tragedies and all-too-common experiences. Meeting these characters, their stories, their families, their hopes and dreams, and reading as every sliver of normal is ripped away in a short burst of senseless violence is a lot. While this is a work of fiction it hits home the reality of many that live in the states. This book is important because we should be uncomfortable with this reality. I had this on a list to read because it is challenged and banned. Banning this book from children who are forced to live in a country where it could very well be their reality is asinine. I cannot say I enjoyed this book, but I’m glad I read it. It is good enough and horrifying enough that I couldn’t put it down once I got into it but needed to because the emotions are real.